Good-bye to my friends and colleagues at Aon Hewitt! After nearly 28 years (27.8042 to be exact...per my actuary friends) I have grown quite fond of these folks. I also appreciate how supportive they, and my many clients who are also friends, have been over the last few months. Not to mention over the next three years.
Good-bye to our home of 16 years.
Good-bye to Murphy...who will live with a very nice family whose Dad is from Ecuador!
Good-bye to In-N-Out...very sad...but there are Burger Kings in Quito!
What was very hard was to say good-bye to these cuties. They will be very big when we get back.
On June 22, we were invited to the office of Elder Quentin L. Cook, one of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (pictured in the middle behind me to the right), and he gave us some counsel and then a special apostolic blessing, that we would be able to perform the challenging assignment that we have before us.
Both my parents (seated) and Dana's parents (standing behind her) were able to be there. My parents presided over the Brazil Campinas Mission and Dana's parents presided over the Texas Houston Mission, both in the 1980's, so this has been a particularly meaningful calling for them.
The following day, as we entered our training, we got a customary picture by the world map.
For three and a half days we were tutored by leaders of the church, including the First Presidency, each member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and others. It was a faith promoting and uplifting experience, gearing us up to head to Quito.
Our official picture is hanging in the Missionary Training Center, along with the pictures of the other 419 mission presidents serving around the world.
We arrived this morning at the Salt Lake City airport to catch our United flight to Houston and then on to Quito, we were greeted with this message...flight cancellation...
So, instead of a decent 12 hour trip, we will take 24 hours...rerouted on Delta to LAX...then the red-eye on Copa Airlines through Panama City and on to Quito!
While we'll be a little more tired, we are very excited to arrive and get started!
Ken & I are so PROUD of you... When we met you you were a young missionary. You were impressive then. You tolerated my questions & inquiries with such a spirit. You & Dana are going to be such a wonderful asset to the mission & to the young missionaries that you will show such love to! Can't wait to see your next blog entry... So glad you will be able keep in touch! XOXO The Lord will be with you... guiding & loving you both! <3
ReplyDelete¡Gracias Maureen! We hope you and Ken are doing well.
DeleteDana, I can't believe that you already started the blog. I expected it to take a week or two. I hope you can find time to continue to tell us about your mission. Other than that terrible plane trip, it looks like you are off to a great start.
ReplyDeleteChris, the Retired Actuary from CT
Thanks for this. I am so excited for you and the young men and women (well a few older ones too) whose lives you will bless and to hear your stories.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the blog already! Having returned home from a delayed flight from Boston late last night, I feel your traveling pain. That will be a crazy start to your adventure, but you'll both hit the ground running I'm sure. Lots of love to you both!
ReplyDeleteI hope that someone from the nampa idaho area gets to servd in your mission. Maybe even my son in 2 years:) you guys will be great. Love reading the blog. I got goose bumps.
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ReplyDeleteYou will be an incredible blessing to the people of Quito and all those young missionaries who serve under you. What an incredible adventure and experience you have ahead. Blessings to you all!
ReplyDeleteGreat beginning for many wonderful experiences and wonderful people. We love you!
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